Aunt Nancy USA - Supporting The Troops: Departed Units

Monday, September 28, 2009

8th Military Police Brigade returning home

Today I was informed that the 8th Military Police Brigade is returning to the USA in October!

No more mail should be sent.

I'll be getting replacement names soon for the holidays.

_______________________________

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Departing Troops

As a quick reference here I am posting a summary of the troops who are no longer "in theater" and are back in home base. Be sure to check often if you are not sure about your soldier or sailor. Remember also to review the status of the "back-up name" given to you for your Customs Forms. In the left column, under "Grouped Topics", you may find several postings for your soldier or sailors' unit with more specific information.

For those of you with soldiers still in Iraq: It's time to send out those 4th of July packages! A card at least, although some fun "party" decorations would add to their cheer!

Leaving in May and June 2008:

1LT Fukuzawa & unit
720 MP
USS CARNEY returned to home port in Florida on June 4th
972MP, FOB Freedom

Left Iraq April 2008:

D COMPANY, 1-181 INF BN

Back home in February and March 2008:

CAMP LIBERTY soldiers of A CO, 1-64 AR, UNIT #43435
MNC-I PAO, CAMP VICTORY
K-9 Unit: SGT James Hazelton & SGT Stone. I did receive some replacement names.
Tom Reed, CPT

January 2008 departures:

293 Military Police
Sean Burke & unit

December 2007 departures:

97th MPs
FOB Freedom (Note: a 2nd group stationed here -- the 972MP -- came in to me in early 2008, and are leaving in June 2008)

October 2007:

A Company & SFC Jesse Rada, 2d BSTB, 10th MTN Div, Unit # 43045, are leaving Iraq
89th MP departed Baghdad (they alternate with the 18th Military Police, who are now in Iraq through October, 2008)

August 2007:

B Company & SGT Paul Stovall, 3-144 INF. 2nd PLT., Camp Delta (Scania), left Iraq

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Future:

September 2008:

59th Military Police

October 2008:

18th Military Police

December 2008:

101 ABN Div, COB Speicher

March 2009:

1-27 IN (From Hawaii)

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BUZZ WORDS/ACRONYMS:
MP = Military Police
APO = Army Post Office
FOB = Forward Operating Base

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Holidays Projects

12/17/10 update:
Thanks everyone for making this one of the biggest participation holiday yet!!!

Anyone up for Valentine packages???

- - - -

Get ready to send Christmas stockings: due to the mailing time to Afghanistan, we need to mail holiday packages in mid-November when possible!

Even with Priority Mail, it can take 4 to 6 weeks. We want all packages to arrive at least a week before Christmas. For Iraq mail by Thanksgiving Weekend if possible. *update 11/26: Mail has been arriving quickly -- some in just 2 weeks! Many packages are already in the hands of our troops. So we have time to get more out!

And if you are sending holiday cards or decorations of any kind, it is nice for them to arrive 2 or 3 weeks ahead.

For the first time, I'm having a fundraiser to give more greeting cards to our troops to send home, right from their computers.
Consider buying a card, which provides one for the military. $2.99 per card, including the postage stamp. I appreciate the help.
click: Cards for The Troops

See November 22nd posting for mailing information ------>

2010 CHRISTMAS STOCKING PROJECT

STOCKINGS FOR
Troops in Afghanistan & Iraq:
goal 600
609 pledged

- - - - -

THE WOUNDED WARRIORS at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany:
goal: 200
200 pledged

- - - - -

Hanukkah gifts:
goal: 7
7 pledged

I do NOT publish any individuals' addresses on this blog nor my website! If you want to help, please email me for instructions. nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Be sure your current email address is SUBMITTED on my website to be included in monthly webmail updates: www.auntnancyusa.com

Please: Never pass along a troops's info. Check with me.

Some soldiers available

At this time I have only a few troops in Afghanistan . I do have a few contacts who would like goodies to pass out to their units. One Chaplain in particular is asking for cookies and candy for his 600+ troops.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is looking for candy for the wounded troops.

If you would like to help, send me an email at this email address:
nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Also note: If your Marine/soldier's unit is getting ready to redeploy and exit Iraq or Afghanistan, their Army Post Office (APO) or FPO mailboxes usually close down 30 days in advance.

Ideas of what to send:
NOTE: in spite of what I told some of you, the troops no longer need, or rarely use, AA or AAA batteries! Not all want more music CDs but some do! Send batteries and CDs only if specifically mentioned in my email to you.
Gotta' keep up with the newer technology these kids use! They DO want iTunes cards and iPod Shuffles if YOU want to be a hero! Phone cards too!

They also really like the small energy drink "shots". Small microwavable meals which don't need refrigeration are handy, and they often appreciate a recent magazine.

While chocolate does melt, some soldiers tell me that melted chocolate is better than NO chocolate! Just be sure to put anything that melts or is liquid in zip-loc style bags. Sand gets into everything which makes sealed bags always a good idea. In fact, put everything you can in a sealable bag. The troops re-use them too

And, check out the cool little instant coffee packets Starbucks sells now -- they are perfect for inserting in packages.

ABOUT AUNT NANCY

Just a little FYI here: I began writing the troops when my niece was stationed in Baghdad with the 18th Military Police back in May of 2003. Three of her troops were not getting much mail so I started sending them notes and goodies. My wonderful General Motors Engineering co-workers started joining in, word spread, and well, 6 years later over 2,000 people from around the world are now registered on my website and helping out!

There is no formal organization here - just me and my laptop making connections 1 at a time, trying to do the best that I can.

If you would like to sponsor a soldier or sailor, send me an email request. I do not post names on the internet.
Email: nancy@auntnancyusa.com

If you have a friend or family member serving who could use some extra support, send them my way.

Nancy Simioni
Vista, California

Words of Encouragement

Many times we have heard from our troops that just a simple note with words of support and encouragement can save a soldier. The stress of what they are dealing with often gets to them. You don't have to spend a lot of money sending packages. A friendly greeting card every week or every few weeks can make the difference! (Buying a box or package of cards will keep the cost down.)

It's very hot in Iraq and Afghanistan Summers (it goes up to 120!), and these troops are working 10 to 18 hours a day! They are often out in the field for days at a time. In the Winter it gets absolutely freezing temperatures. They may be on their 2nd or 3rd deployment. If he or she has any energy left to sit back and write a letter, family and friends will most likely hear back first. Even those replies are rare. Of course, they might also just be 19 year olds who hate to write! Frankly, most have NEVER written a letter. But don't quit!

It is OK to stop sending additional packages if you have not received a reply after several months. In fact, I would suggest you send a card BEFORE sending a package. If you want to send a gift tell them you need a response FIRST so you can confirm the address is correct.

Mostly I encourage you to keep mailing notes of support. Sending notes frequently can build a relationship, even if it's only a one way conversation for awhile. Tell them you are there for them if they need you. Remind them that we are thinking of them. Find some funny greeting cards; Send a family photo; a return envelope; Include a local newspaper (especially the sports section!) or a postcard; tell them what's happening in your daily life.

Words of Encouragement: much more valuable than "stuff".

To get email updates about the troops in my program be sure you have your email address SUBMITTED on my website: www.auntnancyusa.com even if you haven't adopted an individual soldier.
And check back on this Blog often.
July 2009

Aunt Nancy USA - Supporting The Troops

Monday, September 28, 2009

8th Military Police Brigade returning home

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Departing Troops

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS

First Fund Raiser for The Troops

800 Christmas stockings sent to the troops!

Jesse Rada & troops - 2010

Holidays Projects

2010 CHRISTMAS STOCKING PROJECT

Nov 29, 2007 -- Stockings for LRMC

Some soldiers available

18th Military Police Brigade

SFC Jesse Rada and his A Co 2d BSTB

My email: Nancy@auntnancyusa.com

ABOUT AUNT NANCY

Grouped Post Topics - click here for quick reference

Blog Visitors Beginning June 1, 2008

Weather Reports

Words of Encouragement

My Dad - WWII - 1943

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